Need tips for controlling sow bugs (aka pill bugs)

[dekkard]

Our garden consists of many raised beds. We have relatively few problems with bugs and the ones we do (mostly aphids) are easily controlled with monitoring and spot treatment with organic remedies. We only go organic b/c a large portion of our food comes from the garden and our health problems decreased greatly after switching to a near total organic diet.

HOWEVER, there is one chronic problem with woodlice/sow bugs (aka pill bugs or rollie pollies; See: Woodlouse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) that frustrates us year after year. Apparently, the raised beds create an artificial ecosystem for them wherein they thrive free from the normal predator check on their population. These bugs suck the juice out of seedlings and do damage to fruit that is near or touching the ground.

We have tried boric acid and diatomaceous earth both of which work by killing on contact. The problem is we cannot seek out and spray every bug and if we do the soil PH can be changed by the large quantity of Boric acid or DE.

We never had problems with these bugs before raised beds. Does anyone else have problems with them? Any ideas for a solution would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Abnshrek]

So where are your raised beds? I'd hate to have mine next to yours w/ them pests now. I wish you luck on a good answerthat still leaves your produce etible. :^)

[brothertom2020]

Yo Dekkard: I think I'd be grabbing some short life span insectide like Malathion, Seven or a powder type to spread around. Knock'em down once and for all. I know you spoke of organic, but it dosen't seem to be working too well?! :-o

Just my two cents worth! Tom ;-)

[sandy0225]

lay some boards down for a few days and they will congregate under the boards, especially if you spray a little water under them. Then pick them up and spray bug killer and/or sweep up and crush any of them you see. Then move the boards to a different location if you sprayed, and do this and again and again until you stop seeing so many. if you have a period of time where you can rotate your veggies to a different bed and dry that one out, that will help too.

[2woodensticks]

bait them,marigold flowers,dog #2, bury small can,add bait,they fall in at night, kill ,repeat,,i have tried it all,save gas and a match,with i do not think will work but anyway,,i have not been able to get rid of completly..i just keep numbers in check..night time is better,they seem to like my dogs#2 so i leave it and at night i trap and kill,or spray,or just STOMP!!bottem line atleast here in FL. they are tough